Month: September 2021

The New Orleans Pelicans have had an interesting offseason, albeit not an ideal one. They traded for Jonas Valanciunas in a win-now move, but failed to land a major free agent as they had hoped, instead scrambling a bit to land Devonte’ Graham in a sign-and-trade with the Hornets. More recently, there has been reporting indicating that the organization isn’t exactly in lock step, with frustrations about president of basketball operations David Griffin and concern over their ability to keep Zion Williamson long term.

Williamson is, without a doubt, the cornerstone of the franchise even considering the presence of Brandon Ingram, but the clock is ticking on the Pelicans to put the team around him needed to compete in the West. On top of the concerns about Williamson’s happiness in New Orleans, keeping their star big man healthy has also become a difficult task. Zion missed the start of his rookie season with a torn meniscus and, this summer, apparently suffered a fracture in his right foot that required surgery, which the Pelicans announced on Monday at media day.

As Griffin notes, the timeline is set for Williamson to hopefully be back on the court by the time the regular season starts, but managing a foot injury can be a tricky proposition. One would think this would lead to at least some built in days off for Zion, as they’ll have to balance his long-term health with their quest for a playoff spot. On top of that, if he’s been rehabbing from a foot injury this summer, one would assume it will take him a bit of time to ramp up to full game shape — meaning even more conditioning questions about the young star than usual.

In total, it’s an unfortunate injury for Williamson and another hurdle for the Pelicans to figure out how to clear this season.

It’s tough to make a “definitive ranking” for Paul Thomas Anderson. Even the director’s “worst” films are still really good (it’s a toss up between Hard Eight and Inherent Vice for me, but the fact that you’re probably furious at me for putting Inherent Vice near the bottom proves my point). Boogie Nights: fantastic. Magnolia: incredible. There Will Be Blood: a masterpiece. The Master: so good. Phantom Thread: another masterpiece for the hungry boys and girls out there. His next cinematic triumph: Licorice Pizza.

Set in 1970s San Fernando Valley, where PTA grew up, Licorice Pizza is a coming-of-age drama that stars Cooper Hoffman (Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son) as a young actor, Alana Haim (of Haim) as his love interest, and Bradley Cooper as Jon Peters, a real-life film producer who instructs Hoffman’s character how to correctly pronounce his girlfriend Barbra Streisand’s last name. The rest of the cast includes Sean Penn, Tom Waits, and Benny Safdie. The title comes from a chain of Southern California record stores.

You can watch the trailer above. Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Licorice Pizza is the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film tracks the treacherous navigation of first love.

Licorice Pizza opens on November 26.

Wednesday night, September 22, marked the first time in 15 years that the iconic hip-hop band Fugees reunited to play a live show ahead of their highly-anticipated 25th anniversary tour for their album The Score. Performing at the New York rooftop venue Pier 17 for Global Citizen Live, video of the event was limited to the very few attendees who were able to sneak in their phones, as the majority of the concert’s patrons were required to slip their phones into Yondr bags for safekeeping.

Today, however, Global Citizen shared one part of the set, a rollicking performance of Fugees’ signature jam “Ready Or Not.” Backed by a massive live band complete with a horn section that got a memorable breakdown toward the end, Lauryn Hill, Pras Michel, and Wyclef Jean sound as though they’ve never taken a break — let alone one that lasted for over a decade and was filled with borderline waspish statements from the various band members about a possible reunion.

The Global Citizen Live concert in New York City also included performances from Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Coldplay Jennifer Lopez, Jon Batiste, Lizzo, Meek Mill, and more.

Watch Fugees’ reunion performance of “Ready Or Not” for Global Citizen Live above.

The 74th annual Tony Awards were held this weekend, and among the winners was David Byrne. American Utopia won a Special Tony Award, a title given to shows that don’t fit in any of the competitive categories. As Consequence notes, this puts Byrne just an Emmy victory away from achieving the coveted EGOT status, an unofficial title bestowed upon people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Academy Award (Oscar), and a Tony.

Byrne actually had a chance to secure that Emmy earlier this month: American Utopia was nominated for Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) at the Emmys, but lost to Hamilton. Meanwhile, Byrne won one of the six Grammys for which he has been nominated: Best Album Of Original Instrumental Background Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television in 1988, for his work on The Last Emperor. That same year, his score for that movie also got him an Oscar for Best Original Score.

Elsewhere during the Tonys, Byrne gave a performance from American Utopia:

Aside from Byrne, there are a number of other musicians who are just a single win away from getting their EGOT. Also needing just an Emmy to round out their EGOT are Elton John and Stephen Sondheim. Meanwhile, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Common, Cher, Ludwig Göransson, and Randy Newman all just need a Tony. As for musicians missing an Oscar, that list includes Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

As for musicians who have won an EGOT, John Legend did it in 2018. Esteemed composer Alan Menken is the latest person to enter the club, winning his needed Emmy in 2020.

While promoting No Time To Die on a recent episode of The Graham Norton Show, 007 actor Daniel Craig reminisced about an incident on the set of Spectre that left him running and hiding from his massive co-star Dave Bautista. The previous installment in the James Bond franchise hit theaters in 2015, but Craig still distinctly remembers its production, and the moment he thought Bautista was going to do very bad things to him. Via IndieWire:

“I threw a punch and hit him on the nose,” Craig said. “I heard this crack and I was like ‘Oh God no’ and ran away. I thought he was going to come after me, but he was so sweet.”

Craig said that Bautista set his nose back in place and production continued, adding, “He’s a lot tougher than I am. I’ll give him that.”

However, Bautista did end up getting Craig back, but at the actor’s direction. During another fight scene, Craig made the mistake of asking Bautista to be more forceful while throwing the 007 star against a wall, and he immediately regretted that decision.

“I ended up on the wall, but my knee was over here somewhere,” Craig told Norton. “I knew and it was horrible because if anyone’s had a serious injury, you just know in your head that something is really wrong.”

Despite walking away with injuries after filming both Spectre and No Time To Die, Craig isn’t looking forward to seeing his Bond successor being named. Granted, he’s had his moment where he wanted to leave the franchise, those feelings have softened in recent years, and he confessed to Norton that he’s not quite ready to see someone else fill his tux.

“It’s very emotional,” Craig said. “I’m glad I am ending it on my own terms. I’m grateful to the producers for letting me do that. But I sure miss it. I’ll probably be incredibly bitter when the new person takes over.”

Fortunately for Craig he’ll have some time to prepare for the next 007 being chosen. According to Variety, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is in no rush to find Craig’s replacement, and the franchise won’t even start looking at actors until well into 2022.

(Via The Graham Norton Show, IndieWire)

It’s been a couple of years since Tool released their 2019 effort Fear Inoculum, and you might recall how the hard rockers were forced to pull the plug on its 2020 supporting tour due to the pandemic. Now, Tool have announced a fresh round of tour dates, starting in January 2022 and moving through May. They’ll first hit the US and then pivot to Europe. Blonde Redhead will open from January 10 to February 10, followed by The Acid Helps from February 19 to March 20.

“It is with great pleasure I get to announce our return to the road,” said Danny Carey. “These past 18 months have been trying to say the least but from great trials come great lessons and great rewards. We are genuinely looking forward to sharing them with you.”

Check out the full list of dates below.

01/10/2022 — Eugene, OR @ Matthew Knight Arena
01/11/2022 — Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
01/13/2022 — Boise, ID @ Ford Idaho Center
01/15/2022 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
01/16/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
01/18/2022 — Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
01/19/2022 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
01/21/2022 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
01/22/2022 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
01/25/2022 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center
01/27/2022 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
01/30/2022 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
01/31/2022 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
02/02/2022 — San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
02/04/2022 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
02/05/2022 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
02/08/2022 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
02/09/2022 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
02/10/2022 — Miami, FL @ FTX Arena
02/19/2022 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
02/20/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
02/22/2022 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
02/23/2022 — Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena
02/26/2022 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
02/27/2022 — Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
02/01/2022 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
03/03/2022 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
03/04/2022 — Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
03/06/2022 — Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
03/08/2022 — Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
03/10/2022 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/12/2022 — Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center Arena
03/13/2022 — Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
03/15/2022 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
03/17/2022 — Moline, IL @ TaxSlayer Center
03/18/2022 — St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
03/20/2022 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
04/23/2022 — Copenhagen, DK @ Royal Arena
04/25/2022 — Oslo, NO @ Spektrum
04/26/2022 — Stockholm, SE @ Avicii Arena
04/28/2022 — Hamburg, DE @ Barclaycard Arena
04/29/2022 — Frankfurt, DE @ Festhalle
05/02/2022 — Manchester, UK AO @ Arena Manchester
05/04/2022 — Birmingham, UK @ Resorts World Arena
05/06/2022 — Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
05/09/2022 — London, UK @ The O2 Arena
05/12/2022 — Paris, FR @ AccorHotels Arena
05/13/2022 — Antwerp, BE @ Sportpaleis
05/15/2022 — Berlin, DE @ Mercedes-Benz Arena
05/17/2022 — Cologne, DE @ Lanxess Arena
05/19/2022 — Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
05/ 21/2022 — Krakow, PL @ Tauron Arena
05/23/2022 — Prague, CZ @ O2 Arena
05/24/2022 — Budapest, HU @ SportAréna

Tickets go on sale 10/1. Get them here.

If you’re new to mezcal, you need to know a few things. First off, all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. Technically speaking, mezcal is the term used to define any agave spirit; tequila can only be made using Blue Weber agave. Also, tequila must be made in Jalisco and a few other Mexican states while mezcal can be made pretty much anywhere (although it’s mostly made in Oaxaca).

Like tequila, there are various terms used to explain how long mezcals have been aged. Those aged for the longest amount of time are known as extra-añejo, expressions aged for one to three years are añejo, mezcals simply rested for two months or more are reposado and unaged mezcal is called joven.

Today is all about the latter entry as it’s, in my opinion, the best way to get to know this slightly smoky Mexican spirit. Without aging, you truly get to zero in on the sweet vegetal, fruity, slightly smoky flavor of the agave itself.

Part 1: The Taste

If you truly want to understand the subtle nuances of mezcals, you need to do a blind taste test. This is the only way to guarantee the most accurate results. Without seeing a flashy label or a well-known brand name, you use nothing but your senses of smell and taste to judge each mezcal.

Smoky, sweet, vegetal, spicy — without aging, a good mezcal is truly a matter of taste. Speaking personally, I’m looking for a nice combination of those qualities that doesn’t veer too wildly in any direction. Also, I definitely want to sense plenty of that grassy and mineral-y agave — it’s crucial to the experience.

To that end, I selected eight joven mezcals and blindly nosed and tasted each one to truly determine which is the best. Here’s the lineup:

• Montelobos Mezcal Joven
• Ilegal Mezcal Joven
• Del Maguey Vida Mezcal Joven
• Sombra Mezcal Joven
• Dos Hombres Mezcal Joven
• Casamigos Mezcal Joven
• Susto Mezcal Joven
• 400 Conejos Mezcal Joven

Let’s get tasting!

Taste #1:

Tasting Notes:

I took a moment to breathe in the subtle aromas of citrus peels, vanilla beans, and slight smoke. Sadly, those were the only scents I found. Sipping it revealed more citrus, vanilla, and subtle caramel that paired with the agave sweetness and more smoke.

It’s not a terrible mezcal by any account, it just has limited flavors.

Taste #2:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with aromas of ripe berries, vegetal agave, and just a wisp of smoke. Not much else though. The palate is more of the same with the addition of a hint of orange peel and a nice spiciness that pairs with the smoke.

All in all an okay sipper, but nothing too exciting.

Taste #3:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with aromas of tropical fruits, crisp apples, ripe agave, vanilla, butterscotch, and pleasing smoke. The palate is centered around vegetal agave but also features vanilla beans, orange peels, and warming, enjoyable smoke at the very finish.

Taste #4:

Tasting Notes:

This mezcal is an absolute smoke bomb and that’s not such a bad thing. This is because, on top of smoke, there are also prevalent aromas of vanilla, citrus, and pipe tobacco. The flavor is agave-forward with nice fruitiness, subtle herbal qualities, more vanilla, and a healthy dose of smoke.

Taste #5:

Tasting Notes:

This mezcal’s nose is pretty light. There are tropical fruits, dried fruits, and a little smoke. Otherwise, it’s fairly lackluster. The palate is a little hotter than I’d hope with notes of citrus, ripe agave, vanilla, cracked black pepper, and more smoke.

It’s fairly flavorful, but the heat and alcohol flavor is a little too bold for my liking.

Taste #6:

Tasting Notes:

This mezcal’s nose is surprisingly bland. There’s a strong ethanol smell along with agave, an herbal quality, and slight smoke. Literally nothing else. The palate is pretty thin with some vanilla, vegetal agave, and more smoke.

Overall, an absolutely forgettable mezcal.

Taste #7:

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with freshly cut grass, sweet agave, vanilla, caramel, and slightly smoke aromas. Sipping it brought more ripe agave, earthy, herbal flavors, tropical fruits, vanilla, and more smoke.

All in all a pretty well-rounded sipper.

Taste #8:

Tasting Notes:

This is a smoky mezcal for sure. The first aromas I found were those of a smoky agave. They were followed by tropical fruits and slight vanilla. The palate is pretty much just campfire smoke and vegetal, sweet agave. There isn’t much else.

Overall, a fairly one-dimensional sipper.

Part 2: The Ranking

When it comes to alcohol writing, there are few stories more fun to write (and research) than an alcohol blind taste test. This is especially true with flavorful, slightly smoky, sweet mezcal. I blindly smell and then taste each unmarked sample and give my unbridled opinion of the aromas and flavors. There’s no telling how everything will turn out. There are sure to be surprises and that’s always exciting and fun.

Keep reading to see how everything panned out.

8) Casamigos Mezcal Joven (Taste #6)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $65

The Story:

Another celebrity-based brand (with George Clooney at the forefront), Casamigos tequila has gained quite a following in the last decade. Its joven mezcal was launched back in 2018. It’s small-batch and known for its smooth, sweet flavor.

Bottom Line:

I doubt I’ll taste any mezcals worse than this one today. It tastes like alcohol with a little agave and smoke and really nothing else. I wouldn’t even want to mix with this one.

7) Dos Hombres Mezcal Joven (Taste #2)

ABV: 42%
Average Price: $65

The Story:

The dos hombres associated with this fairly new mezcal brand are non-other than the co-stars of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. Surprisingly, this isn’t just a gimmicky celebrity brand without a soul. It’s actually pretty good and that extends to the brand’s unaged joven.

Made from hand-picked Espadin agave, it’s known for its mellow, sweet, easy-drinking flavor.

Bottom Line:

This is a fairly muted mezcal. It’s not harsh and overly hot. It’s just sort of bland and fairly low in the flavor department.

6) Ilegal Mezcal Joven (Taste #1)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $41

The Story:

Ilegal Mezcal got its name because founder John Rexer spent years smuggling mezcal to his bar in Guatemala. This eventually led to the mezcal fan launching his own brand in 2005. This unaged mezcal begins as 100% Espadin agave that’s roasted, crushed, and then fermented in oak vats before distilling in copper pot stills.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t the worst mezcal I’ve ever tasted, but it’s certainly not the best either. If I was going to drink this again, I’d more likely use it as a mixer than a sipper.

5) 400 Conejos Mezcal Joven (Taste #8)

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $30

The Story:

Made by mezcalero Don Tacho in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, this joven is made from 8-10 year-old Espadin agave. It’s roasted and then crushed using a horse-drawn tahona before being distilled in copper pot stills.

Bottom Line:

This woody, smoky mezcal isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy smoke being the highlight then this mezcal is for you. If you’re looking for more flavors, look elsewhere.

4) Sombra Mezcal Artesenal Joven (Taste #5)

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $39

The Story:

This award-winning 90 proof mezcal is made from 7-9 year-old Espadin agave from Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, México. The agave is roasted, crushed using a traditional tahona, fermented with local yeast, and distilled in pot stills. It’s well-known for its fruit-forward, slightly spicy, smoky flavor.

Bottom Line:

This mezcal is complex and flavorful, but its overwhelming heat and spice might be a little too much for some drinkers.

3) Montelobos Mezcal Joven (Taste #7)

ABV: 43.2%
Average Price: $42

The Story:

This artisanal mezcal is produced in Santiago, Matatlán, Mexico, and is made using only 100% organically certified Espadin agave. This traditionally made mezcal is made with slow-roasted agave and distilled in small batches to guarantee the smoothest, freshest, perfectly smoky sipper.

Bottom line:

There are no dramatic, over-the-top flavors in this mezcal, but that’s great for me. It also has a nice fruit sweetness and pleasing smoke.

2) Susto Mezcal Joven (Taste #3)

ABV: 42%
Average Price: $45

The Story:

Susto Mezcal has a pretty cool story. Back in the late 90s, founder Crispin Perez worked as a dishwasher to host a party for his daughter’s baptism and buy his own copper still. His mezcal (including Susto Mezcal Joven) is made in San Dionisio Ocotepec, Oaxaca using traditional methods.

Bottom Line:

This is a memorable mezcal that, even unaged, is so complex and flavorful, I would drink it on its own to warm up on a cool, fall evening.

1) Del Maguey Vida Mezcal Joven (Taste #4)

ABV: 42%
Average Price: $38

The Story:

When it comes to price to value ratio, it’s pretty hard to beat this joven from well-known mezcal producers Del Maguey. This artisanal, organic mezcal was launched in 2010 and has become a favorite of drinkers and bartenders alike. It’s known as both a great sipper as well as a bold mixer.

Bottom Line:

Some mezcals rely too heavily on smoke and don’t round out the palate with other flavors, this isn’t the case with Del Maguey Vida. It’s smoky-yet-fruity and manages to be sweet at the same time.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

An innocent tweet by sports reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques erupted into a great discussion where people tried to describe the indescribable. “There’s an unnamed media member in here who has never had a Dr. Pepper and asked what it tastes like,” he tweeted.

“I have no idea how to describe it — how would y’all do it?” he asked.

Marcel Louis-Jacques covers the Miami Dolphins for ESPN and appears on NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, and more.

The question feels like a Zen koan such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” or “What do you call the world?”

---

There’s an unnamed media member in here who has never had a Dr. Pepper and asked what it tastes like.

I have no id… https://t.co/Vv65OwJFDd

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ)
1632502469.0

The taste of Dr Pepper is hard to describe because there’s nothing quite like it. It has a hint of cherry. Maybe a little licorice. There’s definitely some allspice in there. It’s tough to describe because it’s a combination of 23 different flavors.

It’s believed that the actual 23 flavors are a trade secret and the recipe is kept as two halves in safe deposit boxes in two separate Dallas banks.

It was created in the 1880s by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas and was introduced nationally in the United States at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition as a new kind of soda pop. Dr Pepper has been around for over 130 years and the flavor has yet to be duplicated. Mr. Pibb comes close, but it doesn’t quite have the same magic.

There are a lot of creative responses to the tweet with people doing their best to put flavor into words.

Some tried to describe it as a recipe. Did they break into two Dallas banks and put the two recipes together?

Evidently, there are a lot of people who can’t stand the taste of Dr Pepper. It’s kinda like black licorice or cilantro. You love it or you hate it.

Some Mr. Pibb fans entered the fray, but it wasn’t their war to fight.

This guy may have hit the nail on the head.

So, in the end, what does Dr Pepper taste like? The best answer should be: Dr Pepper. Much like how an orange has an orange flavor or a cherry has a cherry flavor. Dr pepper has a Dr Pepper flavor.

The pandemic isn’t over yet but it certainly felt like it at the Staples Center in Los Angeles when Lil Baby’s aptly titled Back Outside tour came to town Friday night. The Atlanta rising star had a breakout year in 2020 with the release of his album My Turn, earning his first-ever No. 1 single with “The Bigger Picture,” yet he never got a chance to perform the exhilarating, fan-favorite songs from the album like “Emotionally Scarred,” “Get Ugly,” “Sum 2 Prove,” and “We Paid.”

As a bonus, fans in attendance got to witness a split set with Baby’s co-headliner Lil Durk, who had his own album, The Voice, to promote, plus the two rappers’ joint album, The Voice Of The Heroes. Durk’s opening set provided the Chicagoan the opportunity to showcase the talents of his OTF family, particularly Booka600. King Von was honored by a group salute, and when Durk returned to the stage later to perform the joint tracks, the two rappers’ chemistry was palpable.

The energy level remained high throughout the set despite the relatively somber vibe of the crew’s songs, although Coi Leray’s appearance injected more fun into the proceedings when she emerged to perform her song “No More Parties,” which Durk features on. The crowd got more hype for a possible Drake appearance when Durk’s band struck up the Canadian’s Durk-featuring hit “Laugh Now Cry Later,” but he was as close to a no show as it gets for an artist who wasn’t on the bill (he was actually across the country at the time, making a surprise pop-up at J. Cole’s opening show on The Off-Season Tour).

A return to normalcy – whether real or imagined – also means a return of silly gimmicks like floating cars and giant mechanical birds. These are the bells and whistles that get fans out of their houses, that ensure the trek downtown and the money spent on tickets, parking, and overpriced concessions are worth it.

For Lil Baby, that meant a bed, complete with spread, pillows, and a pair of scantily clad female companions, suspended over what can only be described as a stage on the stage (or a massive lightbox). Various other furniture appeared on both stages, including a couch and a jewelry tray, from which Baby added to the glittering collections on his arms and neck as he rapped. His female dance team provided most of the motion on stage as he delivered a relatively relaxed performance — although much improved from the pre-pandemic shy guy who’d stick to one corner of the stage. He even danced a little himself after he brought out another set of dancers who looked to be about middle school age

Along with the aforementioned, there was a rolling clothing rack that Baby gripped as he was pushed from one end of the stage to the other by two of his dancers. A game show ensued when Baby offered to bring a fan onstage to pick one bag that was ostensibly full of money from three bags brandished by his dancers, doing their best Vanna White impressions. Even though the person they picked chose the wrong bag, Baby, ever gregarious, still sent the fan home with the correct one.

Normal also means guest stars, and while this part was exciting, it also began feeling problematic as it wore on. When Roddy Rich appeared atop the stage on the stage, it took a moment for the crown to realize he was up there, but they quickly cottoned on, prompting rousing renditions of his songs “Ballin’” and “The Box.” The place went absolutely ballistic, though, when hometown artist Chris Brown appeared from backstage and danced to his hit “Go Crazy” sans Young Thug. Then, just when it seemed the decibel level couldn’t go any higher without causing permanent hearing damage to everyone within a block radius outside the building, Nicki Minaj showed up, marking her first public performance since 2019. She rapped her verses from “Seeing Green” and BIA’s “Whole Lotta Money” as the crowd roared.

As Baby wrapped up the show with his career-defining hit “Bigger Picture,” it certainly seemed like things have gone back to normal. But that song choice inadvertently begged the question: Should things go back to normal? After all, while the 2020 uprisings certainly seemed like the start of something, that movement was very much pushing back against the status quo. Baby, and so many other entertainers, seemed to be gaining a new social awareness that felt powerful coming from their massive platforms. Then, Baby himself rejected that notion, preferring to remain firmly apolitical. Now, a year later, it also feels like the broader progress that started in 2020 has halted in the push to go “back to normal” instead.

Likewise, it can’t be enough that stars are just recognizable without being accountable. The timing of Nicki Minaj’s appearance couldn’t have been coincidental. She’s facing a backlash over her anti-vax tweets and threatening a journalist, as well as a lawsuit for harassment of her husband’s alleged 1995 rape victim. That’s to say nothing of Chris Brown receiving a hero’s welcome, 12 years on since battering Rihanna without so much as a public apology. There has, however, been a string of accusations since then, including a restraining order filed by Karruche Tran in 2017 alleging violence and menacing behavior.

Compound that with all of the usual reckless concert misbehavior — people blowing smoke indoors, heedless of their fellow concertgoers — and it really hammers home the point. The metaphor of people making personal choices that affect others inside this ostensible safe place is harrowing when the scope is expanded to what’s been going on outside of venues where vaccination is required. Going “back to normal” seems to mean going back to a state in which human decency as a whole is optional rather than the bare minimum expectation of society. Sorry to sound preachy here, but the pandemic and resulting shutdowns offered us a chance to determine a new normal, a better normal. In the bigger picture, that should be more important than any album, artist, or concert.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.

This week saw a meeting of two gigantic pop forces and a busy week for J. Cole. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.

For more music recommendations, check out our Listen To This section, as well as our Indie Mixtape and Pop Life newsletters.

Coldplay and BTS — “My Universe”

Coldplay and BTS have both been titans in their respective fields for years, and now the two meet up on a new collaborative single, “My Universe.” It may not have been easy for Coldplay to get to South Korea to make this happen, but the end result — a Max Martin-producer pop banger that feels true to both artists — was worth it.

J. Cole — “Heaven’s EP”

It’s been a big year for J. Cole, as he dropped a new album, The Off-Season, earlier this year. He made some more noise last week with “Heaven’s EP,” a freestyle over Drake’s “Pipe Down.” Fittingly, this moment arrived a few days before Cole brought Drake on stage at a concert, where Drake effused about Cole’s place in hip-hop history.

Joyner Lucas and J. Cole — “Your Heart”

“Heaven’s EP” wasn’t all Cole was up to last week, as he also linked up with Joyner Lucas on “Your Heart.” Uproxx’s Wongo Okon notes that on the track, Lucas and Cole “admit to their wrongs in past relationships, which often left their past partner brokenhearted and hurt” while using “maturity and wisdom to criticize their wrongdoings while sympathizing with the person they hurt.”

Run The Jewels — “Ooh La La (Remix)” Feat. Lil Wayne, Greg Nice, and DJ Premier

Run The Jewels’ “Ooh La La” is over a year old at this point, but El-P and Killer Mike managed to effectively refresh the song with a fresh remix. On the new version, Lil Wayne kicks the track off with a verse full of aesthetic rhymes: “I can boom shakalaka your medulla oblongata” is pure ear candy when Wayne delivers the line.

Gunna — “Too Easy” Feat. Future

Gunna and Future teamed up on “Street Sweeper” last year, and now they’ve blessed 2021 with another collab. The new one is “Too Easy,” a quick and hard-hitting tune which sees the pair waxing braggadocios about their prosperity.

Coi Leray — “Twinnem”

It’s been a breakout year for Coi Leray and she kept it going last week with “Twinnem.” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes that on the song, “she shouts out her most loyal friends and tells everybody else to kick rocks” while rapping over “a thumping bass drum and joyful organs in her now-signature slurred chirp.”

Janelle Monáe — “Say Her Name (Hell You Talmbout)”

Janelle Monáe has never shied away from getting political, and she shares a message on her latest track, “Say Her Name (Hell You Talmbout).” The song includes the names of over 60 Black women who died at the hands of police brutality, and Monáe got quite the roster of collaborators to join her on the track: Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Chloe X Halle, Tierra Whack, Brittany Howard, Zoë Kravitz, and others.

Latto — “Big Energy”

On Latto’s latest single, “Big Energy,” she deviates from her, as Uproxx’s Wongo Okon put it, “hard-hitting strip club-friendly tracks” for a more pop-oriented, dance-ready sound. That’s largely thanks to the sample of Tom Tom Club’s ’80s classic “Genius Of Love,” which sounds surprisingly modern when re-contextualized on the new track.

Giveon — “For Tonight”

Giveon took care of his fans in 2020 with the EPs Take Time and When It’s All Said And Done, and now he’s back with more. The singer returned last week with “For Tonight,” an emotional ballad on which Giveon lets his voice command the track as he pleads for an intimate moment.

Bartees Strange — “Weights”

Bartees Strange has become one of the most fascinating voices in indie rock in a short time, and he added to his growing legacy last week with “Weights,” which starts with a wall of guitar and proceeds much in the same way through the rest of the energetic single. Strange says the track is about “going back and forth in my head about relationships that could have happened, missing that it didn’t, and finally realizing I gotta let the weight of it all go.”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.